LED light global positioning and routing communication system

ABSTRACT

An LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one photodetector attached thereto. The processor is in communication with the light emitting diodes and the at least one photodetector, where the processor is constructed and arranged to illuminate at least one of the light emitting diodes to generate a light signal which in turn includes at least one embedded data packet. The at least one embedded data packet communicates global positioning system (GPS) location information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application from U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/479,705, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,593,299 onNov. 26, 2013, which is a Continuation application from U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/126,589 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,188,879 on May29, 2012, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.U.S. Pat. No. 8,188,879 also claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/931,611 filed May 24, 2007, the disclosure ofwhich is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to multiplex communications, and moreparticularly to versatile communications incorporating GPS locationsinto data packet headers and trailers. The data packet headers may thenbe transmitted based upon physical location, and various comparisons maybe made between predetermined physical locations and electronic markersand position indicators used for many diverse, critical purposes. Inmore specific embodiments, Visual Light Embedded Communications (VLEC)are combined with GPS headers to provide many unexpected and novelbenefits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Communication and data sharing have been important to humans throughouthistory. Cave writings, letters, books, magazines, newspapers,telegrams, telephones, fax machines, and Internet are all examples ofthe importance of communication and data sharing. As speed, accuracy,distance, and sometimes size of the desired communication. Increasingly,people are desiring this communication to be possible anywhere, anytime,whether on the go or just in a unique setting.

Currently, the main wireless method of communication uses radio waves totransmit or receive information. Wireless access can be gained throughlocal, low-power transmitters, or through higher power cell phone towerswhich can be many miles apart. The cell phone system poses severalwell-known issues, the first of which is coverage. Presently, there arenot enough towers to provide coverage in all areas, creating alikelihood of dropped calls in certain geographic areas. The possibilityof dropped calls or dropped signal is a distinct disadvantage, and, infact, could pose a hazard in the case of an emergency situation. Theissue of full coverage is further augmented by a sensitivity to varioustypes of radio frequency interference which also interferes withreception. Radio frequency interference and weak signals also raise theissue of one receiving false information, such as in the case ofalternative information being transmitted or key information being leftout or dropped in the case of weak or variable transmissions.Additionally, cell phone communications systems are quite limited inbandwidth or capacity for high-speed data communications.

Position determination may commonly be made using either of two existingsystems. One is satellite-based, known as the Global Positioning System(GPS). Not only are satellite systems expensive and subject toatmospheric interference, they have other limitations as well. One suchlimitation is accuracy. GPS is accurate to within a couple hundred feethorizontally, but many drivers using GPS systems still find themselvesfrustrated when the GPS provides them with inaccurate directions, eithercausing them to arrive at the wrong destination, or being told to make aU-turn after following directions because the GPS is not accurate enoughto correctly read the street that vehicle is on. Furthermore, currentGPS devices do not have the capacity to store enough information toprovide drivers with more than a crude map, making the identification ofwhere one is unnecessarily difficult. Systems have been developed thatconceptually provide photographic or even three-dimensional mapping andguidance, but storage of such data drastically exceeds portable GPSequipment capacity. Finally, satellites are not always accessible whenthere is not a line of communication with the satellite. For exemplarypurposes, car-ports, overhangs, underpasses, garages, buildings and manyother shelters and covers can interfere with or completely inhibitsatellite reception. These communications can be skewed or blockedundesirably.

The second system uses triangulation from cell phone towers. Thistechnique suffers from similar limitations of accuracy and coverage asthe satellite system. Whether using GPS systems or cell phones,triangulation techniques are typically only accurate within severalhundred feet. Horizontally, this precision is adequate for manyapplications. However, vertically several hundred feet could encompasstwenty floors in an office, or apartment building, or many floors in aparking garage. In the case of an emergency, such as a fire or a medicalemergency, knowing which floor or level can make a crucial life-or-deathdifference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the present invention is generally directed tolight emitting diodes (LEDs) and applications thereof. In particular,some embodiments of the present invention are directed to using LEDs togenerate light signals including data packets comprising globalpositioning system (GPS) location information.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an illumination apparatusthat is capable of illuminating a space and simultaneously capable ofcommunicating through visible light directly with a number of adjunctdevices. In addition to human communications, communications withadjunct devices may effect various convenience, safety, globalpositioning system routing systems (GPSRS), traffic control, energymanagement and related functions.

The present invention creates a much more reliable and accuratecomparison for global positioning system (GPS) or instrument flightrules (IFR), and similar systems and services. Additionally, the presentinvention verifies data in real time through such a comparison. Thepresent invention also incorporates improved real-time tracking ofaddresses which can be stationary or dynamic in their physical location,especially and is useful for identification of location based servicesthat require the exact location of a vehicle or individual such asemergency vehicle repair services. The present invention ties datapackets to geographic locations on a real-time basis rather than usingcyber translations. As a corollary thereto, the present invention inreal-time recognizes packeted information and the location of a vehicleor individual using accommodating technology. The present invention alsoincludes the ability to use “mesh-networking,” reducing data packettraffic on the “Network Backbone.” The present invention incorporatesthe use real time locating systems for humans, permitting electronicmonitoring and locating in or after emergency situations, or for simplereal-time locators. Similarly, inanimate objects such as vehicles may betracked through the network and accounted for automatically, using lesssophisticated communications tags. Additionally, the present inventionhas the ability for unauthorized infrastructure detection, using anaddress system identifying the location of the device (GPS), a uniqueserial number, and a governing infrastructure list which may “lock out”devices not on the governing list. On an open road that is particularlyuseful because all can drive on the road but only those withauthorization may access any data packets and only those with higherlevels of clearance may alter the information. The present inventionadditionally includes sufficient communication bandwidth to incorporatesmart video integration. Furthermore, the present invention has theability to track an origin address upon receiving it, verifying thesource in real time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of thepresent invention may be understood and appreciated by reference to thefollowing detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a projected environmental view of one embodiment of aGlobal Positioning System Routing System or GPSRS system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a data packet structure incorporating GPS locationinformation into the header and trailer.

FIG. 3 illustrates from top view a street lamp illumination andcommunications system operative with a vehicle traveling therein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric plan view of an embodiment of aninformation transmission corridor in accord with the teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric plan view of an embodiment of a streetlight post light post in accord with the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a name tag in an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Manifested in the preferred embodiment GPSRS 100, the present inventionprovides visible light in combination with embedded communications. Theembedded communications in accord with an embodiment of the inventionfurther incorporate GPS routing information into communicationsnetworks. In accord with the present invention, there are two types oflights: static or stationary lights, such as a street lamps 104-109, ordynamic moving lights such as automobile lights found in vehicles 102and patrol car 103. Stationary lights such as street lamps 104-109 arefitted with LED illumination and integral data communications, referredto herein as Visible Light Embedded Communications (VLEC). The physicallocation of each stationary light, in the form of GPS coordinates, isstored within that light in electronic form, preferably using Read-OnlyMemory (ROM) or the like, such that the address may not later be alteredor tampered with. An address is a GPS location of the stationary lightalong with its unique manufacturer's embedded serial number. Acomputational system incorporating a microprocessor or the like isprogrammed to provide necessary communications functions to communicatethrough modulation of light emanating from the stationary light wheninterrogated by a client optical device. The client optical device maybe another stationary light, or may alternatively be a moving light.

The preferred embodiment GPSRS 100, through retrieval of the GPSlocation, is capable of location determination resolution of a movinglight to a single light fixture, and the light fixture is readilyidentifiable by GPS coordinates and serial number. Therefore,embodiments designed in accord with the teachings of the presentinvention have much more exact pinpointing than heretofore available.GPSRS 100 may be used to locate a person or vehicle immediately, even ina large area and/or among a large crowd, and can keep track of a largepopulation simultaneously. Large bandwidth is afforded by opticalcommunications, and permits video signals to be integrated where sodesired.

Since location may be relatively precisely discerned, street lamps104-109 or other appropriate street lamps may in one embodiment beconfigured to change color, flash, or otherwise be visually changed ormanipulated to assist with directional guidance, personnel or intruderidentification, energy management, or even to facilitate the meeting andconnection of individuals. Each street lamp will incorporate at leastone and possibly a plurality of optical transmitter LEDs and at leastone and possibly a plurality of optical detectors.

A preferred optical transmitter, in accord with the present invention,preferably comprises at least one optical LED, and most preferablycomprises an RGB LED array, designating that the LED includes Red,Green, and Blue which are the primary additive colors from which allother colors including white may be produced. For exemplary purposesonly, an optical transmitter may comprise discrete LEDs of each primarycolor, or may alternatively be a single RGB LED array integrated onto acommon die group, taking the physical form of a single LED. Furthermore,more than one RGB LED array may be integrated upon a single die group orwithin a common package or optical transmitter, as may be deemed mostappropriate. In practice, there is no limit to the number of RGB LEDsthat may be used, other than physical size and available spacelimitations, and thermal dissipation capacity and power requirementconstraints.

By controlling the relative power applied to each one of the RGB LEDarrays, different colors may be produced. Color televisions and computermonitors, for example, incorporate very small red, green and blue (RGB)dots adjacent to each other. To produce white regions on the screen, allthree RGB dots are illuminated. Black dots are the result of none of theRGB dots being illuminated. Other colors are produced by illuminatingone or more of the dots at different relative levels, or alternativelycontrolling how many closely adjacent dots of one primary color arefully illuminated relatively to the other two primary colors. Thedisplay of different colors can be used as a part of a visual signalingsystem, using particular colors as indicators of particular information.

While other options exist for producing white light from LEDs, the useof an RGB LED absent of phosphors is preferred for most applications ofthe present invention. Not only is color of the light easily controlledusing well-known RGB technology, but also by their very nature phosphorstend to slow down the rate at which an LED may be illuminated andextinguished due to phosphor latencies. For the purposes of the presentinvention, where an optical communications channel is created usingoptical transmitter LEDs, higher data transfer rates may be obtainedwith more rapid control of illumination levels. Consequently, ifphosphors are used in the generation of light, and if faster dataexchange rates through optical communications are desired, thesephosphors will preferably be very fast lighting and extinguishing.

An optical detector may either be a broad spectrum detector oralternatively color-filtered or sensitive to only a single color. Thedetector will be any of the many known in the art, the particularselection which will be determined by well-known considerations such assensitivity, reliability, availability, cost and other consideration.

Greater details regarding the optical communications are found in ourcommonly assigned and co-pending patent applications identified belowand filed simultaneously herewith, the contents and teachings which areincorporated herein by reference in entirety.

This application is related to the patent application entitled “LEDLight Communication System,” patent application Ser. No. 12/126,529,filed May 23, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,188,878 on May 29, 2012which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The presentapplication is also related to the patent application entitled “LEDLight Dongle Communication System,” patent application Ser. No.12/126,227, filed May 23, 2008,issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,687,965 on Apr.1, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Further, the present application is related to the patent applicationentitled “Building Illumination Apparatus with IntegratedCommunications, Security and Energy Management,” patent application Ser.No. 12/126,342, filed May 23, 2008, now abandoned, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The present application is relatedto the patent application entitled “LED Light Interior Room and BuildingCommunication System,” patent application Ser. No. 12/126,647, filed May23, 2008, now abandoned, which is incorporated by reference herein itits entirety. Further the present application is also related to thepatent application entitled “LED Light Broad Band Over Power patentapplication Ser. No. 12/126,469, filed May 23, 2008, now abandoned,which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Applicant additionally incorporates by reference herein patentapplication Ser. No. 10/646,853, filed Aug. 22, 2003, U.S. Pat. No.7,439,847, which claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationNos. 60/405,592 and 60/405,379, both filed Aug. 23, 2002, thedisclosures of all three being expressly incorporated herein byreference. Further, Applicant incorporates by reference herein patentapplication Ser. No. 12/032,908, filed Feb. 18, 2008, now abandoned,which is continuation of patent application Ser. No. 11/433,979, filedMay 15, 2006, now abandoned, which is a continuation of patentapplication Ser. No. 11/102,989, filed Apr. 11, 2005, now issued U.S.Pat. No. 7,046,160, which is a division of patent application Ser. No.09/993,040, filed Nov. 14, 2001, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,263,which claims the benefit of provisional patent application No.60/248,894, filed Nov. 15, 2000, the entire contents of each beingexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

Street lamps 104-109 may be used to transmit one or more kinds of data,including identity, location, audio and video information, and variousdata signals. The data signals may arise through communications within aLocal Area Network (LAN), sometimes referred to as an Intranet. The datamay additionally or alternatively arise through communication with aWide Area Network (WAN), commonly describing a network coupling widelyseparated physical locations which are connected together through anysuitable connection, including for exemplary purposes but not solelylimited thereto such means as fiber optic links, T1 lines, RadioFrequency (RF) links including cellular telecommunications links,satellite connections, DSL connections, or even Internet connections.Generally, where more public means such as the Internet are used,secured access will commonly separate the WAN from general Internettraffic. The data may further arise through communications with theInternet.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sample data packet 140, having a destinationaddress 141 that incorporates a desired GPS destination. LTA (Last lighttransceiver Transmission Address) 142, addition overhead 143, data 144,overhead 145 and origin address 146 round out the sample data packet140. Since data packet 140 includes in destination address 141 a GPSidentifier, each street lamp can simply read the address, and based uponthe address which is a physical address, determine which direction toforward the data packet, to an appropriate adjacent street lamp. If thestationary street lamp has an Internal Location Address (ILA) closer tothe data packet destination address than the LTA code stored within thedata packet address code, then the stationary street lamp will insertits ILA code into the data packet address code as the new LTA code, andthen forward the entire data packet to the next closer street lamp. Nocentral look-up or translation is required of the origin and destinationaddresses, vastly reducing the computational effort of forwarding datapackets. Furthermore, the data is communicated in a mesh-fashion, whereeach street lamp directly communicates with adjacent lamps and does notrequire central communications or processing. As a result, with littleif any infrastructure required, other than VLEC illumination andappropriate processors and programming for each street lamp, signals maybe quickly and directly routed from origin to destination.

Further in accord with the present invention, users of the system, whichmay be dynamic, may declare one or more static positions and have adynamic position at any time. GPSRS 100 will track the user as he passesstatic lights, similar to that of cell phones in relation to theirtowers. Each user of the system can determine at any point what hisstatic address is. A static address can be your office, your bedroom,your home, wherever it makes practical sense. The network should becomprised of a physical resolution practical for all foreseenapplications. When a user leaves his static address to traverse throughthe infrastructure, he then becomes dynamic. If a packet of data comesto his static address, it will then be informed as to where his dynamicaddress is.

Techniques of forwarding and locating, considered or used for exemplarypurposes with cellular telephones and other mobile systems, may beconsidered incorporated herein for purposes of enablement. However, inthe present invention, it is further conceived that static componentssuch as lights may preferably incorporate sufficient computer memorystorage and processing capability to store basic information on eachdynamic user who designates that static component as the “home” or baselocation. When a dynamic user leaves communication with the baselocation, and with each change to another static host, the dynamic userwill preferably automatically communicate the current static addressback to the dynamic user's base. When a data packet arrives at thestatic base, the base can simply change the destination address 141 toreflect the current location of the dynamic user. Once the dynamic userreceives the data packet, communications may be made directly with thesender, rather than always routing through the dynamic user's base. Toreduce the likelihood for dropped data packets, it is also desirablethat some or all of the static components include information on recentdynamic clients. In other words, if a dynamic client changes staticlocations during the time a data packet is in transit from a base to thedynamic client, the packet will become lost. If, instead, the staticcomponents also track movement of dynamic clients to the next adjacentstatic host, then the static host would simply once more change thedestination address, this time to the adjacent static host, which willthen communicate the packet to the dynamic client.

Since optical communications channels 113 may be formed between anylights within optical reach, static or dynamic, a system is establishedwhere a collection of lights working together can broadcast-rather thanbeing limited to a stationary address. Consequently, communications canoccur, for exemplary purposes, between widely spaced street lights thatcannot directly communicate, when such lights are bridged by asufficient number of dynamic lights such as from automobiles 102therebetween.

The present invention reduces overhead of infrastructure because itrequires no translation. It removes the need for overhead management.Each packet knows its destination, the closest light. Presently, forexample, cell phones must communicate with the closest towers, which maybe many miles away, both for caller and destination, requiring manycables. With the new system, a cell phone would be informed of GPS andconnect directly to the closest source.

The present invention is also simpler. According to the “last mile”concept, a large majority of the cost occurs in the last mile oftransmission. With this system, the last mile is nearly free. The lastmile develops itself.

The present invention has the ability to monitor in real timehistorically established GPS addresses at one or many street lights, andcompare those addresses to currently calculated addresses. Thiscomparison will preferably occur on a continuous basis, and can providea cross-check for various position determining systems. Among these arethe entire GPS infrastructure, and also various perhaps older airportsystems such as IFR navigational tools and the like. In fact, nearly anyelectronic position detection system can be monitored throughcomparisons with established GPS locations determined at the time ofset-up or installation of street lamps or other appropriate illuminationdevices. This monitoring can be very useful not only to detectpotentially failed or improperly operating components, but also toprovide emergency infrastructure in the event of jamming or skewing ofthe primary position locating system, irrespective of whether thejamming, skewing or malfunctions are accidental or terroristic.Desirably, if a discrepancy is detected between static devices of thepresent invention such as light posts 104-109 and a position determiningsystem such as GPS or IFR devices, then a communication will preferablybe initiated to notify appropriate personnel.

FIG. 3 illustrates an energy management method in accord with theteachings of the present invention, whereby when a section of road 115is otherwise generally vacant, a large number of street lights may bedimmed or extinguished. Street lights 120-128 are preferably programmedto turn on and off as circumstances dictate. Busy intersections andmetropolitan areas will have a large number of street lights. Theselights, in accord with an embodiment of the invention, will have powerlines with data carriers provided therewith, such asBroadband-over-Power Line (BPL) or the like. Static GPS locations arepreferably encoded into each light 120-128. A vehicle 102 drivingthrough an area with street lights could interact with and automaticallyilluminate only those lights needed for travel. As vehicle 102progresses down road 115, lights behind may be no longer needed and somay be programmed to turn off. Consequently, each of street lights120-128 could function variably from 0 to 100% as needed. As is shown inFIG. 3, street lights 120, 121 significantly behind vehicle 102 areproducing less illumination 220, 221. Immediately behind vehicle 102street light 122 is also starting to decrease illumination 222. Lights123, 124 immediately next to and close in front of vehicle 102preferably function at, or close to 100%, producing larger amounts ofillumination 223, 224. Going farther in front of vehicle 102, lights125, 126 are most preferably not yet to full function, though close,giving off partial light 225, 226. In such a manner, with street lightsbrightening as a vehicle 102 approaches and dimming and eventuallyextinguishing after vehicle 102 passes, a moving “bubble” ofillumination surrounds vehicle 102.

Additionally, in the case of a lighted intersection, additional lightson the cross-road may also be triggered to light up, providing vehicle102 with a clear view of any possible cross-traffic, vehicle orotherwise. With appropriate central computer control and programmingwhich will be readily understood and achieved by those skilled in thecomputer arts, the illumination of these neighboring lights can beincreased, to provide sufficient illumination to ensure the safety ofvehicle 102. Since different persons will have different desiresregarding the extent of adjacent illumination, an embodiment of thepresent invention may incorporate custom programming of such features byindividual vehicle 102, or within standard preset selections, such as“cautious” where a relatively large number of lights are illuminatedadjacent to vehicle 102, or “carefree,” where only a minimum number oflights are illuminated. Again, the level of illumination mayadditionally vary with relation to the vehicle, the geometry of the roadspace, in accord with personal preferences, or for other reasons.

Illumination control in the preferred embodiment is the result ofprogramming and data communication between LED illumination 130 fromautomobile 102 and street lights 120-128. However, in one embodimentstreet lights 120-128 may simply sense the presence of illumination 130,whether carrying embedded communications or not. In such case, streetlights 120-128 would also illuminate for a person walking with aflashlight.

While the present invention may be used in combination with existingstructures, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two possible configurations oflights created optimally for optical communication. Both preferredembodiment lights 400, 500 are designed for LED lights that may bepowered by or backed-up by solar energy panels 402, 502, respectively,though they may alternatively or additionally rely upon power conduits405, 505. These lights may be designed to operate in an emergencycommunications mode using very short duty cycle pulses in the event ofan emergency back-up or loss of power line power, or even continuouslyin the low power mode if there are not sufficient battery reservesavailable. An exemplary emergency power operation is illustrated anddescribed in my co-pending applications incorporated herein above byreference. The light illustrated in FIG. 4 most preferably providesfocused light as an output at transmitter 422, and a receiver 420. As aresult, light 400 may serve as a relay. One or more focused outputs maybe provided, and additional receivers may also be provided.

The light illustrated in FIG. 5 is preferably a street light or thelike, and may include not only a broad illumination pattern from aVisible Light Embedded Communications (VLEC) source 510, but may furtherbe provided with receivers and transmitters for focused beams, similarto 410, 420 of FIG. 4. For LED lights as discussed herein to replace anexisting bulb, regardless of type, and benefit from the many featuresenabled in the preferred embodiment, communications circuitry must alsobe provided. This communications circuitry is necessary to properlyilluminate each of the red, green and blue LEDs to desired color and totransport data through optical communication channel 113.

Location based services within a VLEC infrastructure will additionallyinclude improved and secure content. One example is a consumer shoppingmall where general consumers can walk around and discover the exactlocation of the goods or services they need. This is accomplished bysimply providing a portal for any business to place information abouttheir goods and services. The information is then incorporated into theBPL infrastructure by means of application controlling devices whichlinks to the overall office or place of business VLEC grid. Another isin a major office complex where security personnel can identifypersonnel in other offices as they patrol the grounds by simply havingthe information provided to them in real time. With all businesspersonnel having an assigned badge with VLEC technology, the system canlocate individuals in meetings and alert them if needed. PersonalNavigation devices will have the added advantage of providing improvedcoordination and collaboration methods by providing an increase infriend to friend location services. A friend to friend location serviceis an optional service whereby a personal list of friends or familymembers equipped with VLEC technology GPSRS devices can be created in adata base and that data base is managed by the group participants. Whenneeded they utilize a VLEC GPSRS client device that associates with aVLEC host and then with a connection of some form through a controllerin the home that connects or interfaces over BPL to the Internet. TheInformation will then traverse the Internet and arrive at thepredetermined location based on a designed collaboration (containing allInternet protocol addresses subnets and Ports designed for this purpose)by the Friends involved to create this network. The Controlling devicewill contain reference, relationship, awareness or look-up tables andestablish in a fraction of a second, the location of the entity they areseeking. A separate database is compiled by businesses that opt intothis service similar to today's location based services which canprovide the user with a given experience sought after by the business:(sales of goods or services). This information is then embedded orencapsulated into the data stream and transceived throughout theInternet. Today's cumbersome RF calculations require algorithmic mathcomputations that are constantly changing and therefore reduce theaccuracy of locating the device in real-time. A reference back to theprevious or last known location requires constant updates. Couple thiswith the inherent latencies of today's devices and effectiveness isreduced. Based on RF applications, an individual may measure the RSSI(radio signal strength indicator) and relate this information to anothercalculation table before the system can apply probable table coordinatesin order to perform a triangulation calculation of the client device.The RF Location based services rely heavily on assisted GPS technology.This technology is very taxing and expensive on computers, andcontributes to a poor economy of scale approach for businesses. GPSRSwill embed location information.

A plurality of light supports or solitary light sources may beelectrically coupled in either a parallel or series manner to acontroller. The controller is also preferably in electricalcommunication with the power supply and the LEDs, to regulate ormodulate the light intensity for the LED light sources. The individualLEDs and/or arrays of LEDs may be used for transmission of communicationpackets formed of light signals. The server optical XCVR and the clientoptical XCVR are substantially similar in at least one embodiment. Anexemplary optical XCVR (or, simply, “XCVR”) circuit includes one or moreLEDs for transmission of light and one or more photodetectors forreceiving transmitted light.

The LEDs may be bi-directional. In at least one embodiment, the opticalXCVR is comprised of bi-directional LEDs. In such an embodiment, theoptical XCVR is constructed and arranged such that at least one of thebi-directional LEDs allows parallel transmitting and receiving of lightsignals.

The LED light sources described in relation to any embodiment herein maybe electrically coupled to each other using parallel or serieselectrical connections for electrical communication to a centrallylocated controller and power source. In some embodiments, the opticalXCVR associated with the clock, for example, is constructed and arrangedsuch that each photodiode acts as a separate receiver channel. In atleast one embodiment, the optical XCVR associated with the clock, forexample, is constructed and arranged such that each LED acts as aseparate transmission channel.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the LED can both emit andreceive light. In such an embodiment, the LED can act both as atransmitter or receiver. More information on such bi-directional LEDscan be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,587, the entire contents of whichare expressly incorporated herein by reference.

In at least one embodiment, the name tag of FIG. 6 is embedded with aunique code, similar in principle to the MAC address of a computer, forexample. Thus, every name tag has a unique identifier. The name tagbroadcasts the unique code at regular intervals, or irregular intervalsif desired. Optical XCVRs located within the user's building and nearthe user can then receive the unique code transmitted by the name tag.Badge 170 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 6, and may includefeatures commonly found in standard security identification badges,including but not limited to such attributes as a photograph 1100 of theperson assigned to the badge, and indicia such as employeeidentification or number 1200, name 1220, and business or entity logos1240. Business or entity logos 1240, or other components may integrateanti-counterfeiting technology as may be available or known for suchdiverse applications as passports, driver's licenses, currency and otherapplications. Commonly used devices include holograms, watermarks,special materials or unique threads, and embedded non-alterableelectronic, visible, sonic or other identification codes. An opticaltransmitter 1300 and receiver 1320 are most preferably provided andenable communication over optical communications channel 156. Amicrophone, loudspeaker, microphone and speaker combination, ordual-purpose device 1400 may be provided to integrate an auditorycommunication channel between communication badge 170 and nearby livingbeings or other animate or inanimate objects. A video camera 1420 may beincorporated to capture video or still pictures. A video display 1500may additionally be incorporated into communication badge 170,permitting information 1520 to be displayed thereon, which could forexemplary purposes could comprise either text or graphics.

While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodimentof the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimedinvention are intended. Further, features and design alternatives thatwould be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered tobe incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth andparticularly described in the claims hereinbelow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An LED light and communication system comprising:at least one optical transceiver, the at least one optical transceivercomprising: at least one light emitting diode and at least onephotodetector attached thereto, the at least one light emitting diodegenerating illumination, said illumination comprising a plurality offlashes of illumination, said flashes of illumination not beingobservable to the unaided eyes of an individual; a processor incommunication with the at least one light emitting diode and the atleast one photodetector, the processor being constructed and arranged toregulate said plurality of flashes of illumination into at least onecommunication signal, said at least one communication signal comprisingat least one data packet, said at least one data packet comprisingglobal positioning system location information and a last opticaltransceiver transmission address.
 2. The system of claim 1, the at leastone communication signal comprising a destination address, wherein thedestination address includes global positioning system (GPS) locationinformation.
 3. The system of claim 2, the at least one communicationsignal comprising an origin address, wherein the origin address includesglobal positioning system (GPS) location information.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, the LED light and communication system further comprising asecond optical transceiver, the second optical transceiver having asecond optical transceiver address, wherein the at least onecommunication signal includes global positioning system (GPS) locationinformation for the second optical transceiver address.
 5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the at least one optical transceiver is an originoptical transceiver, and wherein the at least one communication signalincludes global positioning system (GPS) location information for theorigin optical transceiver.
 6. The system of claim 5, further comprisinga destination optical transceiver, wherein the at least onecommunication signal includes global positioning system (GPS) locationinformation for the destination optical transceiver.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the second optical transceiver is located between theorigin optical transceiver and the destination optical transceiver. 8.The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one optical transceiver is adestination optical transceiver, and wherein the at least onecommunication signal includes global positioning system (GPS) locationinformation for the destination optical transceiver.
 9. In combination,the system of claim 1 and a broadband over power line communicationssystem.
 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the LED light andcommunication system is in communication with an operating system for astructure.
 11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the LED light andcommunication system is in communication with a security system for astructure.
 12. The combination of claim 9, wherein the LED light andcommunication system is in communication with a security system for astructure and an operating system for the structure.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, the at least one data packet comprising global positioningsystem (GPS) routing information.
 14. The system of claim 1, said atleast on data packet comprising a manufacturer-embedded serial number.15. The system of claim 1, said processor being constructed and arrangedto read a transmitted data packet received by said at least onephotodetector from another optical transceiver and to determine adirection for re-transmission of said transmitted data packet.
 16. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one photodetector functions asa separate receiver channel relative to another photodetector on said atleast one optical transceiver.
 17. An LED light and communication systemcomprising: at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceivercomprising: a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least onephotodetector attached thereto, the plurality of light emitting diodesgenerating illumination, said illumination comprising a plurality offlashes of illumination, said flashes of illumination not beingobservable to the unaided eyes of an individual; a processor incommunication with the plurality of light emitting diodes and the atleast one photodetector, the processor being constructed and arranged toregulate said plurality of flashes of illumination into at least onecommunication signal wherein the at least one communication signalcomprises at least one data packet comprising at least one addresscomprising global positioning system location information, said at leastone data packet further comprising a last optical transceivertransmission address; and wherein the at least one optical transceiveris constructed and arranged to allow parallel communication using saidplurality of light emitting diodes.
 18. The system of claim 17, whereineach of the plurality of light emitting diodes acts as a separatetransmission channel.